Welcome to the Hog Blog, a blog chronicling minor-league baseball in the Lehigh Valley. Tom Housenick, The Morning Call's IronPigs beat writer, has been at The Morning Call since 2008. In a previous lifetime, he was at Lackawanna County Stadium in Moosic talking with future Phillies Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard, among many others.
He’ll now be spending his summers in search of who the Phillies are hoping to be the next Chase Utley and Cole Hamels plus any outfielder who catch and hit. What he really hopes to find are the next Mariano Rivera, Todd Helton and Jim Thome --- great human beings who happened to be great at this sport.
He spent the last five years covering Colonial League football, college basketball and high school track & field.

Six IronPigs lead their respective positions in the latest International League All-Star voting update.

Catcher Erik Kratz and second baseman Josh Barfield lead their positions, and Brandon Moss is third among the outfield selections.

Drew Carpenter and Scott Mathieson currently hold down the two fan positions at relief pitcher, while Brian Gordon is tops among starting pitchers.

Gordon, of course, plans to be otherwise occupied when the Triple-A all-stars from the IL and the Pacific Coast League gather in Salt Lake City in mid-July -- he is currently on the Yankees major-league roster and makes his pinstripe debut Thursday afternoon against the Rangers.

Jeff Larish and Ronnie Belliard are second at first and third base, respectiely, although Belliard retired Tuesday. Also, Rich Thompson is seventh among the outfielders while Mike Zagurski (sixth) and Michael Schwimer (seventh) are among the top 10 relief pitchers.

Here's the complete leaders:

CATCHER

1) Erik Kratz, Lehigh Valley

2) Jesus Montero, Scranton/WB

3) Devin Mesoraco, Louisville

4) Michael McKenry, Pawtucket

5) Jesus Flores, Syracuse

FIRST BASE

1) Lars Anderson, Pawtucket

2) Jeff Larish, Lehigh Valley

3) Ryan Strieby, Toledo

4) Chris Marrero, Syracuse

5) Jorge Vazquez, Scranton/WB

SECOND BASE

1) Josh Barfield, Lehigh Valley

2) Jason Kipnis, Columbus

3) Will Rhymes, Toledo

4) Tony Thomas, Pawtucket

5) Chris Valaika, Louisville

SHORTSTOP

1) Jose Iglesias, Pawtucket

2) Chase d'Arnaud, Indianapolis

3) Cale Iorg, Toledo

4) Zack Cozart, Louisville

5) Chris McConnell, Syracuse

THIRD BASE

1) Lonnie Chisenhall, Columbus

2) Ronnie Belliard, Lehigh Valley

3) Brian Friday, Indianapolis

4) Todd Frazier, Louisville

5) Argenis Diaz, Toledo

DESIGNATED HITTER

1) Michael Aubrey, Syracuse

2) Andy Marte, Indianapolis

3) Chris Carter, Durham

4) Cord Phelps, Columbus

5) Scott Thorman, Toledo

OUTFIELD

1) Desmond Jennings, Durham

2) Jeremy Hermida, Louisville

3) Brandon Moss, Lehigh Valley

4) Alex Presley, Indianapolis

5) Yonder Alonso, Louisville

6) Daniel Nava, Pawtucket

7) Rich Thompson, Lehigh Valley

8) Benjamin Guez, Toledo

9) Brandon Guyer, Durham

10) Lucas Duda, Buffalo

STARTING PITCHER

1) Brian Gordon, Lehigh Valley

2) Adam Wilk, Toledo

3) Julio Teheran, Gwinnett

4) Andrew Miller, Pawtucket

5) Dontrelle Willis, Louisville

6) Duane Below, Toledo

7) Zach McAllister, Columbus

8) Ross Detwiler, Syracuse

9) Brad Lincoln, Indianapolis

10) Tom Milone, Syracuse

RELIEF PITCHER

1) Drew Carpenter, Lehigh Valley

2) Scott Mathieson, Lehigh Valley

3) Jeff Mandel, Syracuse

4) Kevin Whelan, Scranton/WB

5) Tim Wood, Indianapolis

6) Mike Zagurski, Lehigh Valley

7) Michael Schwimer, Lehigh Valley

8) Tony Pena, Pawtucket

9) Justin Hampson, Buffalo

10) Josh Wilkie, Syracuse

Fan balloting will help determine the starting lineups for both All-Star teams, accounting for one-third of the total vote. Ballots cast by members of the media and each club’s field manager, coaches and general manager will account for the other two-thirds.

Fans can register for a chance to win various prizes when they cast their ballots online at the official websites of Minor League Baseball (MiLB.com), the Pacific Coast League (PCLBaseball.com), the International League (ILBaseball.com) and the websites of all 30 Triple-A teams. The online sweepstakes, which is presented by Pert Plus, includes special Triple-A prize packages and MiLB.TV subscriptions.

The 24

th

annual Triple-A All-Star Game will be broadcast live from Spring Mobile Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 13 on MLB Network as well as streamed online at MiLB.TV.